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European Cybersecurity Competence Centre and Network
News article9 May 2023Directorate-General for Communications Networks, Content and Technology

The European Cybersecurity Competence Centre (ECCC) opens its doors in Bucharest

The ECCC inaugurates its new headquarters in Bucharest, Romania, with the participation of the Prime Minister Nicolae Ciucă, Director-General of the European Commission Roberto Viola and ECCC acting Executive Director Miguel González-Sancho.

ECCC Offices in Bucharest, Romania Inaugurated

The European Cybersecurity Competence Centre (ECCC) aimed at supporting innovation and industrial policy in cybersecurity as well as developing and coordinating EU cybersecurity projects inaugurates its new headquarters in Bucharest, Romania, at the Campus Building of the Polytechnical University.

The inauguration ceremony will take place today at 11:45 with the participation of Prime Minister Nicolae Ciucă, Director-General of the European Commission’s Department for Communications Networks, Content and Technology (DG CNECT) Roberto Viola and ECCC acting Executive Director Miguel González-Sancho. The event will be available in a live feed. The ECCC contributes to EU’s cyber resilience, pooling funding from the EU, Member States and other participants, to support European industry capabilities, uptake and innovation

Prime Minister Nicolae-Ionel Ciucă stated:

“Launching the ECCC’s activity in Bucharest is a clear signal that the European Union is present institutionally in Romania, reconfirming, at 16 years since accession, our country’s maturity and direct and relevant contribution to strengthening European construction. Making this centre operational now is furthermore opportune as the attacks of a hybrid nature, the cybersecurity challenges to Europe have progressively accelerated, increasing significantly not only in terms of number but also in complexity and severity. Precisely for this reason, the presence in this part of Europe of an essential component for strengthening the EU’s cyber resilience reconfirms the attention extended to our joint efforts to protect the economy, citizens, and public institutions”

Thierry Breton, Commissioner for the Internal Market, said:

“Cybersecurity is a critical priority, and safeguarding our digital sovereignty requires joint efforts. The European Cybersecurity Competence Centre brings together top-tier experts and resources from across the EU to develop innovative solutions to cyber threats and enhance our resilience against attacks. By working together, we can build a safer and more secure digital world for all Europeans.”

Miguel González-Sancho, interim Executive Director of the ECCC, added:

“Cybersecurity is a vital element of our digital life. Cyber communities should work together to boost cyber capacities and resilience in the European Union. We are proud to inaugurate today the new offices of the European Cybersecurity Competence Centre in Bucharest. The Centre looks forward to working with many cyber actors from across Europe, to build a safer digital environment and leadership in cyber technology.”

The Centre is responsible for managing EU cybersecurity funds under the current multi-annual EU budget (2021-2027), notably adopting cybersecurity work programmes and managing cyber projects under the Digital Europe Programme and Horizon Europe.

Amongst other, it will manage projects on cyber threat detection and sharing through a network of Security Operations Centres, as part of the Commission’s proposal to establish a European Cyber Shield. It will oversee a network of National Coordination Centres for cybersecurity, aiming to build an ecosystem for cybersecurity innovation and competitiveness across the EU.  

The ECCC's new office is located at the Campus Building of the Polytechnical University of Bucharest, at the entrance of the "Militari" neighbourhood. The campus site is a landmark in town and is known for the offices of high-tech IT companies like Microsoft Romania, Thales Romania, and Bit Defender.

This location symbolises not only the EU’s commitment to cybersecurity across the continent, also providing a platform to catalyse efforts on cybersecurity innovation and industrial capacities.

Background

The European Cybersecurity Competence Centre (ECCC) aims to increase Europe’s cybersecurity capacities, innovation and competitiveness, works with a Network of National Coordination Centres (NCCs) and the Cybersecurity Community across the EU

The ECCC decides on EU funding on cybersecurity under the DIGITAL Europe and Horizon Europe  work programs, and manages projects, pooling resources from the EU, Member States and other actors. The ECCC will recently adopted a agenda for strategic investment on cybersecurity and will soon open new calls for proposals for EU projects on cybersecurity. The ECCC, together with the NCCs Network, also supports collaboration and sharing of expertise and capacities between industry, public authorities, academia and other relevant cyber stakeholders.